REDEMPTION, unfortunately, wasn't meant to be for Collins Akowe and NU-Nazareth School, as they suffered a 77-83 overtime defeat to University of Santo Tomas in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball finals.

Though Akowe remained a dominant force with 23 points, 24 rebounds, and four blocks, the league's first-ever Best Foreign Student-Athlete fouled out with five seconds left in regulation.

Thankfully for the Bullpups, Migs Palanca was at the right place at the right time, winning the box-out down low and sinking the putback to send the game to overtime.

Only, the blue-and gold had to battle five more minutes without Akowe - and the Tiger Cubs took full advantage by feeding Racine Kane, who fired five of his 28 points to lift his side to their first title since 2001.

PHOTO: UAAP Media Bureau

And with that, the Nigerian powerhouse concluded his juniors career a runner-up for the second straight season.

“It's not a good experience. Being one of the leaders of the team and not being there at a crucial time, I don't want to say what if. I don’t want to have regrets. But it’s part of basketball,” he said.

The disappointment was very much evident on Akowe, who hesitantly walked back to the awarding ceremony, and opted not to wear his silver medal.

According to him, feeling frustrated was inevitable, but he nonetheless remains grateful for what was a tenure with numerous records and breakthrough performances.

As he put it, “Just keep working, never stop, stay on the grind. It's tough, but I can't let it haunt me because I can’t change the past.”

Now, all eyes are on what's next for the player who was, essentially, the poster child for the UAAP's new rule on individual awards.

Akowe, though, hasn't made up his mind at the moment.

“I don't have any schools yet. There will probably be a few offers, but I'm just trying to see what’s best for me,“ he expressed.

PHOTO: UAAP Media Bureau

Even prior to his arrival in the Philippines, scouts in the U.S. almost had first dibs on the 6-foot-10 big.

And while overseas endeavours are still on the table, Akowe still isn’t writing off keeping the same colors - only this time, with Jake Figueroa, Steve Nash Enriquez, and Bulldogs in the seniors.

“NU is my school, that’s my alma mater, so definitely. But I'm just trying to keep my options open and all of that. So in the next one or two weeks, if possible. I trust in God’s timing,” he added.

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